I took my camera down to Carmel just for myself to check out Astons on the Avenue. I like the mystique and aura of an Aston Martin car, which I find different than any other, especially the generation of cars from about 2010 to 2018. I got the chance to talk to a couple of very friendly owners as well, which I found informative and interesting. The headliners at this show were the examples of the new mid-engined car Aston put out this year, the Valhalla. The range of cars though went all the way back to the 60s, so there was an Aston on display for everyone.
Three Years of Photographing the Porsche Monterey Classic
This was my third year in a row (see the second time) attending the Porsche Monterey Classic, an event that for me has become the unofficial start of Monterey Car Week. After already photographing it twice, the challenge this year was trying to see the same crowded dealership, service bays, and rows of Porsches in a different way. At a car show like this, I am certainly not the only person walking around with a capable camera, and with so many people packed around the cars, making photographs that feel different can be difficult. One thing to be different was bring my Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM lens and shoot it wide open at f/1.4, which gave me a different way to work close to the cars while still showing some of the environment around them. I also kept looking for foreground elements, very low viewpoints, and compositions that you would not normally see just standing next to a car at eye level. Did I find completely new angles compared to last year, or even two years ago? I do not know, but trying to find them is part of what keeps photographing the same great Car Week event interesting for me.
There is a stretch of coastline at Asilomar Beach where, at the right time of day, small pools form between the rocks and begin to reflect the sky.
During sunset, those reflections shift quickly—light softens, colors deepen, and the line between ocean, sky, and foreground starts to blur.
These images were made while moving slowly through that space, focusing less on the wide scene and more on the smaller, quieter moments happening at ground level.
A Quiet Afternoon with an Old Friend Along the Carmel Coast
My oldest and best friend, Terry, made another visit to Pacific Grove recently. On a spectacular February afternoon, we went back to Carmel Meadows Trail, a place we first visited when he helped me move to the area. We did not hike far after finding a bench with the view you see above. The view was just stunning, and we both just enjoyed some quiet contemplation time as the fog rolled in below the setting sun. Just one of the many, amazing, and totally free places along the Monterey coast one can enjoy an afternoon unlike anywhere else in the world.
Ferrari Owners line up Ocean Ave in Carmel for Monterey Car Week 2025
Another car show event for Monterey Car Week 2025 today. This time I went to Carmel for Prancing Ponies on Ocean Ave. The main street down the heart of Carmel is Ocean Ave, and indeed ends right at the ocean. The beach was not the center of attention today though, it was a lineup of Ferrari cars from across the generations to the latest 12 cylinder GT car, to classic racing cars from the 50s. I even got to see my personal favorite, the 458 Speciale Aperta. None of the Ferrari Big 5 (now 6) nor the Daytona SP3 which was disappointing though. Still, the sun was out and it was a beautiful afternoon for viewing fast and beautiful Italian sports cars!
Car event photography at Porsche of Monterey for Car Week 2025
This was my second time attending the car event held by Porsche of Monterey. For me, it kicks off Monterey Car Week 2025. This is a very large car event featuring Porsches from all eras and all generations. The event spreads out all over the dealership covering the entire lot, the service bays, and even closing a part of one of the main streets in town. It is a great event if you want to learn about the history of Porsche cars, or just walk around in the late afternoon sunshine daydreaming about driving one of these sports cars on the open road. Another first for me was getting to see a PTS Carrera GT!
Morning Photo Walk around Downtown City Park in Paso Robles California
I found myself in Paso Robles, California in walking distance to Downtown City Park. I took my camera in the cooler morning time around this park enjoying for the first time in a long time a peaceful photo walk just making photos of things I found interesting. This led me to making photos of the structures in the park itself, including a Carnegie Library turned museum, various flowers and greenery, as well as some unique features along the streets around the park. If you visit Paso Robles, this park is even nicer at night when strings of lights dangle from the trees, and on Thursday evenings in the summer there is live music.
